Ocupações pré-ceramistas nos areais da Amazônia Central

We propose to present here some data on pre-ceram ic occupations collected during archaeological surveys near Manaus. Hypotheses made about human occupations and their interaction with the environment are being discussed since the beginning of research in the region. Ceramic, lithic and botanical materials have provided interesting data for these discussions. In light of these data we decide to revise some assumptions made about the first inhabitants of the Amazon as specialized huntersNosso objetivo é apresentar alguns dados referentes às ocupações pré-ceramistas coletados durante trabalhos de levantam entos e resgates arqueológicos realizados nas proximidades de Manaus. As hipóteses sobre as ocupações humanas e a interação com o meio ambiente são pontos discutidos desde o começo das pesquisas na região. Vestígios cerâmicos, líticos e botânicos têm fornecido dados interessantes para essas discussões. A luz desses dados apresentamos uma proposta para rever as hipóteses sobre os primeiros ocupantes da Amazônia com o caçadores especializado

A comparison of bird communities of two contiguous forests in Carlos Botelho State Park, São Paulo, southeastern Brazil

A riqueza e a composição de espécies de aves variam ao longo de gradientes altitudinais em resposta a diferenças em fatores abióticos, como a temperatura, e bióticos, como a estrutura da vegetação. Neste trabalho, foram avaliadas comparativamente duas comunidades de aves florestais do Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho, sudeste do estado de São Paulo. Foram selecionadas para amostragem áreas em que a floresta se encontrava nos estádios médio e avançado de sucessão ecológica, situadas entre 700 m e 800 m na região Montana e 70 m e 200 m na Submontana. As trilhas disponíveis foram percorridas anotando-se todas as espécies observadas ou escutadas e o esforço amostral foi o mesmo em cada área, 360 horas. Foram registradas 177 espécies para a floresta Montana e 176 para a Submontana. As comunidades não diferiram significativamente em nenhum dos parâmetros qualitativos avaliados – riqueza, total de espécies com distribuição restrita ou ameaçadas de extinção e número de espécies por guilda. Entretanto, diferiram acentuadamente na composição de espécies. Os resultados enfatizam a importância da padronização do esforço amostral e dos tipos de hábitats a serem avaliados em estudos sobre gradientes altitudinais, além de ressaltarem a relevância das duas fitofisionomias para a preservação das aves da Mata Atlântica.Palavras-chave: gradiente altitudinal, guildas alimentares, Mata Atlântica.Bird species richness and composition vary along altitudinal gradients in response to differences in abiotic, e.g. temperature, and biotic factors, e.g. vegetation structure. A comparative analysis of two forest bird communities was made at Carlos Botelho State Park, southeastern state of São Paulo. Were selected for sampling areas where the forest was in the middle and late succession stages, located between 700 and 800 m in mountain forest and 70 and 200 m in submountain forest. The trails available were walked recording species observed or heard and sampling effort was the same in both areas, 360 hours. We recorded 177 species for mountain forest and 176 for submountain. Communities not differ significantly in any qualitative parameters evaluated, richness, and species with restricted distribution or threatened and species number per guild. However, they differed markedly in species composition. Results emphasize the importance of standardized sampling effort and evaluated habitat types in altitudinal gradients studies, and relevance of two forest physiognomies for Atlantic Forest bird conservation.Key words: altitudinal gradient, food guilds, Atlantic Fores

Warm stellar matter with deconfinement: application to compact stars

We investigate the properties of mixed stars formed by hadronic and quark matter in $\beta$-equilibrium described by appropriate equations of state (EOS) in the framework of relativistic mean-field theory. We use the non- linear Walecka model for the hadron matter and the MIT Bag and the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio models for the quark matter. The phase transition to a deconfined quark phase is investigated. In particular, we study the dependence of the onset of a mixed phase and a pure quark phase on the hyperon couplings, quark model and properties of the hadronic model. We calculate the strangeness fraction with baryonic density for the different EOS. With the NJL model the strangeness content in the mixed phase decreases. The calculations were performed for T=0 and for finite temperatures in order to describe neutron and proto-neutron stars. The star properties are discussed. Both the Bag model and the NJL model predict a mixed phase in the interior of the star. Maximum allowed masses for proto-neutron stars are larger for the NJL model ($\sim 1.9$ M$_{\bigodot}$) than for the Bag model ($\sim 1.6$ M$_{\bigodot}$).Comment: RevTeX,14 figures, accepted to publication in Physical Review

Pregnant women with bronchial asthma benefit from progressive muscle relaxation: A randomized, prospective, controlled trial

Background: Asthma is a serious medical problem in pregnancy and is often associated with stress, anger and poor quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on change in blood pressure, lung parameters, heart rate, anger and health-related quality of life in pregnant women with bronchial asthma. Methods: We treated a sample of 64 pregnant women with bronchial asthma from the local population in an 8-week randomized, prospective, controlled trial. Thirty-two were selected for PMR, and 32 received a placebo intervention. The systolic blood pressure, forced expiratory volume in the first second, peak expiratory flow and heart rate were tested, and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and Health Survey (SF-36) were employed. Results: According to the intend-to-treat principle, a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and a significant increase in both forced expiratory volume in the first second and peak expiratory flow were observed after PMR. The heart rate showed a significant increase in the coefficient of variation, root mean square of successive differences and high frequency ranges, in addition to a significant reduction in low and middle frequency ranges. A significant reduction on three of five State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory scales, and a significant increase on seven of eight SF-36 scales were observed. Conclusions: PMR appears to be an effective method to improve blood pressure, lung parameters and heart rate, and to decrease anger levels, thus enhancing health-related quality of life in pregnant women with bronchial asthma. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

NA MARGEM E À MARGEM: ARQUEOLOGIA AMAZÔNICA EM TERRITÓRIOS TRADICIONALMENTE OCUPADOS

The article describes archaeological surveys carried out in traditionally occupied territories in Amazonia, in which the territorial knowledge of current inhabitants constitutes a key factor in access to sites. In writing about the archaeology along the banks of three of the Amazonia’s main rivers (Tapajós, Madeira and Solimões), we hope to explore the varied relations between these communities and the archaeological resources of their territories, challenging rigid conceptions on archaeological heritage. We propose that archaeologists seek to become partners of the traditional communities who provide them with invaluable contributions.Keywords: Amazonian archaeology, archaeological survey, traditional communities, Tapajós, Madeira, and Solimões rivers, Lake of TeféEste artigo descreve o levantamento de sítios arqueológicos em territórios tradicionalmente ocupados na Amazônia. O que é imprescindível para o nosso acesso aos locais é o conhecimento territorial dos ocupantes. Ao relatar o processo de desenvolvimento de pesquisas arqueológicas nas margens de três dos principais rios da Amazônia (Tapajós, Madeira e Solimões), pretendemos explorar as variadas relações existentes entre as comunidades tradicionais e os recursos arqueológicos existentes em seus territórios, desafiando conceitos estanques do significado de patrimônio. Propomos que arqueólogos busquem ser parceiros das comunidades tradicionais, as quais têm contribuições inestimáveis para a geração do conhecimento. Palavras-chave: Arqueologia na Amazônia, prospecção arqueológica, comunidades tradicionais, rios Tapajós, Madeira e Solimões, Lago Tefé

Genomic history of coastal societies from eastern South America

Sambaqui (shellmound) societies are among the most intriguing archaeological phenomena in pre-colonial South America, extending from approximately 8,000 to 1,000 years before present (yr bp) across 3,000 km on the Atlantic coast. However, little is known about their connection to early Holocene hunter-gatherers, how this may have contributed to different historical pathways and the processes through which late Holocene ceramists came to rule the coast shortly before European contact. To contribute to our understanding of the population history of indigenous societies on the eastern coast of South America, we produced genome-wide data from 34 ancient individuals as early as 10,000 yr bp from four different regions in Brazil. Early Holocene hunter-gatherers were found to lack shared genetic drift among themselves and with later populations from eastern South America, suggesting that they derived from a common radiation and did not contribute substantially to later coastal groups. Our analyses show genetic heterogeneity among contemporaneous Sambaqui groups from the southeastern and southern Brazilian coast, contrary to the similarity expressed in the archaeological record. The complex history of intercultural contact between inland horticulturists and coastal populations becomes genetically evident during the final horizon of Sambaqui societies, from around 2,200 yr bp, corroborating evidence of cultural change